Eric Jones returns to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series coming off his best career weekend in his last series appearance. Running a limited schedule in 2003, Jones last raced with the NCTS in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway. Jones qualified a career-best seventh and raced in and among the top-10 all afternoon before taking the checkered flag in sixth. His previous career best finish was eleventh, which came earlier this season in the Hardee's 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Team EJP Racing's previous best finish was at Dover in 2002 with Tom Carey at the wheel when they combined to finish eighth.
"We have made progress every week that we have raced," Jones said. "Our goal for 2003 was to get comfortable with one another and run better each week. For the most part, we have. Our finishes have been better from one race to the next every time we have raced this truck. We have taken it in steps. We have gone from the point where we were competitive enough to run with the top-10 to the point where we can finish in the top-10. The next step is to race with the top-5 and then finish in the top-5. Once we do that, we want to start challenging to win."
This Week's Truck: This week's truck is Johnny 5, the same one the team raced previously this season at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Kansas Speedway. Team EJP purchased the chassis in 2002 from Joe Gibbs Racing and has since re-skinned it with a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado body, hung by Bo Fletcher of Aero Advantage.
Eric on Johnny 5: "Johnny 5 has been fast everywhere we have taken it in 2003. We started 13th and battled for a top-10 finish at Charlotte, but we got caught a lap down when we pitted during a round of green flag stops and the caution came out right after we came in. We took it to Texas and qualifying was rained out. We lost an engine in practice and started last. We had a great race in Texas and came from the back all the way to eleventh. In Kansas, everything came together for us. We qualified well, we had great pit stops, and we ran in the top-10 all day and finished sixth."
Johnny 5's 2003 Results:
Charlotte: Started 13th Finished 16th 135 of 136 laps $7,590 Texas: Started 27th* Finished 11th 167 of 167 laps $12,600 Kansas: Started 7th Finished 6th 167 of 167 laps $12,025 *Credited with 27th, but started at the tail of the field due to an engine change
Average Start: 15.6 Average Finish: 10th Laps Completed: 469 of 470 (99.78%)
Eric on MIS: "Michigan is a fun track to drive as a driver, but it is a challenge for the team. You need to have all the horsepower you can get because the straightaways are so long and the speeds are so high. You need a great body because you need downforce and you need to be able to draft. And since you are in the turns so much, you need the chassis to handle well. We will have great horsepower with a Hutter engine under the hood and we know the body is as good as anyone else's out there. It is up to us find a good setup. If we can do that, I think we can have another career best weekend for myself and for Team EJP Racing."
Eric's NHIS Weekend: While the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series spent last weekend at Gateway International Raceway, Jones and Team EJP spent last weekend entertaining guests at the NASCAR Winston Cup Series and Busch Series weekend at New Hampshire International Speedway. "New Hampshire is our home track with Team EJP being based out of Maine," Jones said. "Steve (Prescott, team owner) had a double suite up there and we had a lot of customers and employees up there. We watched the races with them and spent a lot of time at the hotel and at dinner with them. I can't wait to get back up to New Hampshire with the Truck Series so they have a chance to see us in action."
Eric's 2003 Results:
Date Event Location Start Finish Race Run Status Winnings
16-May Hardee's 200 Concord, NC 13 16 136 135 Running $7,590
6-Jun O'Reilly 400 Ft. Worth, TX 27 11 167 167 Running $12,600
28-Jun GNC 200 West Allis, WI 19 17 200 195 Running $8,765
5-Jul O'Reilly 250 Kansas City, KS 7 6 167 167 Running $12,025
Average Start: 16.5
Average Finish: 12.5
Laps Completed: 664 of 670 (99.09%)
Total Winnings: $40,980
The Team EJP Over-the-Wall Crew:
Crew chief: Tom Pearl
Front Tire Changer: Scott Denton
Front Tire Carrier: Britt Osborn
Jackman: Adam Ross
Rear Tire Changer: Bo Fletcher
Rear Tire Carrier: Frank VerStraete
Gasman: Robbie Lockhart
Catch Can: Lewis McNaughton
Sign Board: Rosy Santerre
Team Consultant: Steve May
